While half of the sporting world fretted about where Allen Iverson will play the rest of his career, the other half of us had some football to watch, thank you. In a Week 14 packed with matchups with big playoff impications, the Colts and Patriots both got massive slices of humble pie, and the San Diego Chargers told the NFL that if they want to take the top spot on my Rankings List, they are going to have to earn it. The division races are still all but sealed envelopes, despite the Cowboys giving a game back to the Giants and Eagles over the weekend. The Colts, Seahawks and Patriots all lost, but Dallas remains the only division leader with less than a two-game advantage. And, hey, quit hatin?! T.O. reminded us how he, like other God?s of Sport Jordan and Tiger, has bad days too. For someone as all-powerful as Terrell, that must be a real hard thing to admit. The wild-card races, which last week were becoming as cluttered as a Monday morning Manhattan Starbuck?s, started to clear up a little. But not a lot. With only three games to play, the NFC has three teams tied for the final two spots, and two teams one back, while the AFC?s five wild-card hopefuls became two when the Jets, Broncos, and Chiefs all failed to nail a victory. Of course, while so much talk was of the Colts? and Patriots? ignominious defeats at the hands of lesser division rivals, the Jaguars, Saints and Bengals showed they belong up top on my list, and for good reason. Of the three, however, only New Orleans is assured of a playoff spot, which goes to show how nothing?s for certain in this league. Week 14 also gave us a group of nobody running backs piling up yards: Travis Henry, Ron Dayne, Sammy Morris. Artose Pinner? What, did all of these guys run against the Colts while noone was watching? I know we can?t guarantee that kind of thing in Week 15, but there are a few things we do know: 1. Jeff Fisher has made something out of almost nothing this year; the titans are 6 ? 2 since starting the year 0 ? 5. 2. Drew Brees, in any league not using Ladainian Tomlinson, is the MVP this year. Tough break, kid. 5,000 yards passing and a division championship (or more) after a 3 ? 13 Saints season in 2005, just won?t cut it while L.T. is around. 3. Rex is not yet resurrected. But he?s no longer Wretched. OK, here?s your rankings. The Chargers are like that card in the magic trick. You know, shuffle the cards all you want, but in the end, they?re the ace sitting at the top of the deck? no matter how much it irks you. This Week?s Rankings: 1. San Diego Chargers (1) (11 ? 2) The Bolts prove lightning can strike twice in the same place, holding firm at the top spot for a second straight week via a 48 ? 20 pasting of the Broncos. And, oh yeah, that Ladainian guy set the season record for touchdowns as well. And with still three games to go, I don?t see his record getting surpassed as quickly as Shaun?s, Priest?s and Marshall?s did before him. Philip Rivers piled on 279 yards and 2 TDs to zero INTs. His .644 completion %, 18-6 TD-INT ratio, and 96.3 passer rating mean he?s one of the few QBs who has managed to keep his ship righted all season long. But who are we kidding? This is L.T.?s team. He and his 29 TDs are the reason this team is the best in the NFL, bar none. 2. Baltimore Ravens (4) (10 ? 3) Baltimore got handcuffed by the rising Bengals in Week 13, then turned around to give the same to the reeling Chiefs. McNair was lights-out accurate, tearing up a KC defense that was still trying to stomach that 31 ? 28 pill the woeful Browns made them swallow one week earlier. # 1 in the NFL in points allowed and yards allowed, tied for first in INTs, and second to the Chargers in sacks. Talk about bad medicine. The Browns, Steelers and Bills will get stepped on to end the season, folks. 3. Chicago Bears (6) (11 ? 2) OK, while Rex may not have turned into Steve Young in one week, he did what he was supposed to do: relax, don?t try to do too much, and keep it simple. What happened? The other Bears did the rest. Cedric Benson served notice he wants to be the man, but it was Devin Hester who stole the spotlight as Chicago headbutted the weakened Rams right out of the playoff hunt. 27 points may be more than the Bears? D is used to giving up, but by the time Bulger started connecting, the game was already in hand. Chicago regains its title as best in NFC show. 4. New Orleans Saints (7) (9 ? 4) Right on their heels, though, are the anointed ones. The Saints were jaw-droppingly good Sunday night. Drew Brees moved the ball to absolutely every spot on the field, collecting 5 TDs before the end of the third quarter(!), while Reggie and Deuce took care of the rest. This was the first time the Cowboys had been beaten at home this badly in a longggg while. If you took a look at Bill?s face on the sideline, you knew what I meant. And hidden behind the offensive fireworks was a defense that continues to improve each week. They shut down a normally potent Cowboys? offense (save for a couple huge plays), and look primed to run into the postseason with gallons of confidence. Watch out. 5. New England Patriots (3) (9 ? 4) Not quite as offensively dominating were the puzzling Patriots, who got shutout by the Dolphins, 21 ? 0. Four sacks. 78 yards passing. Three turnovers, making it eleven giveaways in their last three games. Things are going south real fast for the Pats, who could do almost nothing right on a day that saw their offensive line ?and Brady?s cool demeanor?crumble against Jason Taylor?s gang. Was that just a bad day, or something bigger? They still lead the EAST by two, and still have one of the toughest D?s out there, so this division is likely in the bag, regardless. Houston and Tennessee sandwich a Jaguars squad that could really put the Pats through the wringer. 6. Indianapolis Colts (2) (10 ? 3) It took a while to figure out which was worse: New England getting shut out by Miami, or the Colts getting knocked out by the Jags. My verdict is losing because of putrid defense is much, much worse. And boy, was it bad. Final tally: 375 ? 34. The rushing yards for each team. They were ?uh? running out of guys to hand the ball to. Indianapolis must hold their head in shame, after this season-low for tackling. How Tony Dungy --who began as a stout defensive strategist in his days with Tampa?can stomach this I don?t know. Also unsettling are Manning?s dropping numbers of late. 4 TDs, 6 INTs the past four games is not what we?re used to seeing. Looks like home-field advantage might be gone like a you-know-what in the wind. 7. Cincinnati Bengals (8) (8 ? 5) Maybe the Bengals should be higher up than 7th in the Rankings. But if they win against Indi. on Sunday you can count on them rising even higher. They are clicking on all cylinders right now, and it?s the defense which is turning heads the most. (111 ? 33 in points, the last four games) It?s anchoring the team, and allowing the offense to control the clock. Rudi Johnson got into the high-octane act Sunday with 2 TDs, quietly giving him 10 for the year. And Ocho and Housh are both at the top of their games. Still, despite all the praise, and the 4-game win streak, a tough schedule means playoffs are far from certain. 8. Dallas Cowboys (5) (8 ? 5) I think it?s safe to say that drubbing by the Saints was just ?one of those things?. Fine. ?On any given Sunday?? Dallas may not give up 40+ points a game to end the season. But what the Saints did was show the rest of the NFC two things: 1) Romo CAN be rattled; and, 2), the Cowboys? defense and the Bears? defense are two very different things. Dallas? DBs weren?t on their heels all day. They were lying on their backs, screaming ?I?ve fallen and I can?t get up!? They?ll get up all right. They had better, and fast. Atlanta and Philly are next, before New Years? present, the Lions, to end the season. 9. Jacksonville Jaguars (11) (8 ? 5) Jacksonville made it through another round of ?Catch an NFL Rising Star? Sunday, along with the Bengals and Saints. Nothing, however, is guaranteed with this club, the way they have flip-flopped all year. But David Garrard has been the starting QB each of these two blowouts, and the defense returned in a big way, holding the Colts to 34 yards on the ground. They have a tough schedule remaining ( Tennessee, Jacksonville and Kansas City), but if they keep this up, we almost might forget that they lost to Buffalo, and got swept by the Texans this year. 10. New York Giants (13) (7 ? 6) The G-Men were on life support, and now, with two straight solid games under their belt, and recuperating in the ICU, there?s life left in this underachieving bunch. That massive list of injuries has slowly been getting smaller, and Eli Manning has started to regain his poise and professionalism. They shut down the Panthers? running game, despite allowing, what, like a thousand yards passing by Chris weinke. This Sunday?s matchup vs. Philly will be THE defining moment in their season. After that, it?s a home game against the Saints, who are looking a little more than dangerous right now. 11. Seattle Seahawks (9) (8 ? 5) They will win this division. Losses by the ?Niners and the Rams in Week 14 made that a virtual guarantee. But this team will be tested soon enough, and right now they still need to pull an all-nighter cram session. Losing 27 ? 21 to Arizona means there are a few things that need ironing out. It wasn?t Matt Hasselbeck?s fault. He looked impressive for the day (243 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs). But sloppy play holding the football, and lackluster defense gave the Cardinals a chance to win, and they didn?t think twice. What happens when this team plays the Giants, Eagles, or falcons in the first round? This team needs a confidence boost before that day comes. 12. Kansas City Chiefs (10) (7 ? 6) The Chiefs, like the #15 Broncos, and (not-ranked) Panthers, are on the way down, not up. They got beat down by Baltimore, whose defense allowed next to nothing until a cosmetic TD with a minute to play. Their defense needs sharpening too, still reeling after losing in overtime to the Browns a week and a half ago. And the way the Jags and Bengals are playing, Sunday night?s game vs. San Diego should be their last chance to stay alive in the brutal AFC. 13. Atlanta Falcons (NR) (7 ? 6) Atlanta may have one of the more mystifyingly inconsistent QBs out there, but he can still find a way to win. And, really, you can?t question his passion and fire. Do you think he likes flipping the bird to his own fans for fun? But it wasn?t Vick who won the game against the sorry Bucs. Vick, Norwood, and the Falcons defense did, turning two key turnovers into TDs to seal the game. In fact, Vick and his receivers are still ?for the most part? MIA. Dallas is nexxt, and don?t expect Mike to put up a Brees-esque statline. After that, it?s games against Carolina and Philly, neither of whom will roll over, with the playoofs in the balance. The true 2006 Falcons team will make itself known these next few weeks. 14. Philadelphia Eagles (15) (7 ? 6) Facts are facts. The Eagles have one of the least imposing defenses out there (17th in total defense, 20th in points allowed). And while their 3-point win against the desperate Redskins was far from pretty, it further demonstrated that their QB situation is more than on the mend. Garcia has not thron one single pick in three games since taking over for McNabb. You don?t give away the ball, you give your team a chance to win. He?s a proven, poised leader behind center. He and Westbrook are the only things keeping this team in the hunt. 15. Denver Broncos (12) (7 ? 6) Once again, this last spot proves hard to fill. A handful of teams deserve it, but only because the rest of the handful really don?t, if you follow. Carolina? Defense falling to pieces; have given up I think, 6 leads all year. The Jets? Don?t have enough domination on either side of the ball to keep a streak alive. The Dolphins or Bills? Both still under .500. So, we give it to Denver, who, despite having a tiptoeing QB prone to make mistakes, and a defense a shadow of its early-season self, have a healthy and productive Tatum Bell back, and are still in the playoff hunt. With Arizona, Cinci., aand the ?Niners on deck, they have aa chance still. My guess: look for these guys to find a way to take themselves out of it. Looks like I?m taking myself out too. Out of the house. 24 + hours searching for Christmas gifts to send to my family across the globe --and furiously searching for a last-minute airline ticket to NYC? and now the chair and my rear have become one. And no, I?m not going to upload photos.